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Oct 18, 20246 min read

Regional Update – October 2024


From Stoke-on-Trent’s DCS:

There has been a little bit of a theme occurring with these introductions over the last few months!  In August you heard from Beate, then last month Bernie and this month from me.  If you haven’t joined the dots already, the link is that we have all joined the region, as DCSs this year.  I have been DCS in this region previously, both in Sandwell and Worcestershire, but like Beate and Bernie, I bring experience from other regions too.


It seems that the Autumn has been a busy time for Ofsted in the West Midlands. Along with Wolverhampton and Birmingham, Stoke-on-Trent have recently welcomed inspectors for a Focus visit and also Solihull have had a Monitoring visit.  Obviously, the outcomes of all these visits remain embargoed at the moment, but as they are published we will, of course share the links with you.


Autumn is also a little crowded so far as the regional calendar is concerned.  You will recall from last month’s Update, that we have recently hosted our Annual Team Excellence Awards, and our first ever Participation Leads Conference, but coming up we also have our annual Big Thinking recruitment and retention symposium, the Safeguarding Conference and we are also bringing together Finance Directors and DCS’s to discuss the challenges that we all face at this time.  Please see below, for details of each and do what you can to make sure your LA or Trust are represented.


I am of course also grappling with these issues as well. One of the things the region can do to help is to share experiences in a safe environment.  In Stoke we have the unenviable reputation of having the highest number of CiC (pro rata) in England.  Our crisis in the High Needs Block is actually even more dramatic, but will only crystallise when we have to stop kicking the can down the road.  That day, unfortunately, will come. There are solutions to both, but there is safety in numbers the highly regulated and keenly scrutinised environment in which we work.


Next month the run of newbies will cease, and this introduction will be written by Colleen from Walsall.    However, until then, and as always, thank you for everything you all do for our great region and the children, young people and their families who live here


Kind regards

Simon White


Regional Care Leaver Offer Update:

I’d like to update you on the work we have been doing to achieve a better and more consistent offer for care leavers in the West Midlands.  Over the last 18 months we have been able to see individual progress and good work of all 14 Local Authorities in the region, some examples of this good work include: free prescriptions; protected characteristics; expansion of priority housing support, new signups to the house project; 2 forms of ID; driving lessons; and discounts for our young people similar to ‘staff discounts’.

 

We felt it was the right time to review our approach to this work in June 2024 and have a refreshed ‘West Midlands Pledge Board’, which will focus on strategic change and we hope will include some of our strategic partners in addition to local authority executive and political leaders.  We are also holding challenge conversations with individual local authorities about their offers.

This month, regional leads across the country met for the first time to discuss their approaches to improving the care leavers offer in their area.  It was noted that we were amongst those who had made the most progress in some of the key areas, which served as a reminder that we have the capacity for excellence in the West Midlands, and this work is worthwhile.

Chris Yates

Project Lead for Regional

Care Leavers Offer

 

#RunWithIt is a project that encourages young people with lived experience to participate in their local parkrun. The aim is to improve the mental and physical wellbeing of our young people, by starting their weekends in an active and sociable way. With 14+ local authorities nationally, already signed up, we want more on board!

 

During Care Leavers Week on November 2nd, we invite all local authorities and their young people to walk or run in their local parkrun. Share your photos and experiences with us, so we can make a collage of all our experiences. Our ambition is to have 100+ young people involved.

For more information contact Chase Dowling at Herefordshire Council.


Upcoming Conferences and Events


Big Thinking 24 – 12th November:

The aim of these Big Thinking Events is to think differently when it comes to working collaboratively in our efforts to promote the permanency and retention of a good quality Childrens Services workforce in the West Midlands.  The aims of the event are to find creative solutions which ultimately aim to ensure that children and their families receive the best outcomes that we can offer because they are supported by a strong, stable, and quality Childrens Services workforce.

 

Each local authority area has a limited number of places, so if you are interested in being part of an exciting and innovative conversation, please talk to your Children’s Workforce Lead or Principal Social Worker.


Safeguarding Conference – 28th November:

Following on from last years successful Safeguarding Conference, we have agreed to hold a similar event in November.


The theme of this years conference is Safeguarding, Innovation & New Ways of Working.

The target audience is IRO’s and CP chairs, but if you have an interest in attending, please talk to your Regional Safeguarding Network representative.


Innovate and Grow Conference - 17th March 2025:

A regional conference on practice and development.  The Innovate and Grow Conference is a unique opportunity to spotlight the outstanding work being done across the West Midlands region. This is your chance to engage with leaders, innovators, and practitioners dedicated to shaping the future of care for children and families. Let’s work together to build stronger, more connected communities.

 

Together, we'll explore practical solutions, celebrate our strengths, and foster collaboration that will help us thrive even in uncertain times. Join professionals, leaders, and changemakers from across the region to innovate, grow, and lead us into a brighter future.

More details can be found here.

Webinar and taster sessions:

To enhance practice knowledge across the region, we are introducing a series of taster webinars to highlight and showcase some of the outstanding work happening in our local area. These sessions provide a valuable opportunity to listen, learn, and engage with dynamic work being done in our community. Join us to explore innovative approaches, gain insights, and discover how we can adopt and adapt these practices for even greater impact. Don’t miss out on the chance to connect, ask questions, and deepen your understanding of the exciting developments shaping our region.  Please see below for booking links to individual sessions, and further details can be found here.

 

Family Group Conference & Lifelong Links: Explore how supporting children and young people to maintain meaningful connections can provide stability and positive lifelong outcomes

 

SEND Inspections: A deep dive into recent findings and how we can strengthen collaboration with partners to enhance our regional support systems

·       19th November 11-12.00

·       Led by: Birmingham City Council & WM ADCS SEND lead

·       Book here: Taster Session: SEND Inspections

 

Reunification Project: Learn how a systemic, multi-agency approach is helping families and carers reconnect and reunite through this tried and tested approach

·       20th November, 10.30-11.30

·       Led by: Coventry City Council

 

Regional Commissioning Hub: Strategies to reduce placement costs for children and young people, and insights on how we utilise our data dashboards more effectively

·       29th November 11-12.00

·       Led by: The Regional Commissioning Hub

 

Building Strong Children’s Homes: Gain a national and strategic perspective on setting up successful children’s homes

·       5th December 11-12.00

·       Led by: Coventry City Council

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